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When I heard someone enter the bathroom, I froze.
“Henners?” It was Lark. “You in here?”
“Yeah. I just…needed a minute.”
“Okay, I can leave.” He sounded strange. “I was just concerned.”
“No, don’t leave.” I flexed my fingers against the wall but wasn’t ready to go out and face him. “How did you know?”
“As soon as Flash mentioned flowers, I knew. And then your expression as you were leaving…”
“Yeah…thanks for checking on me. I’ll be okay. This had been happening lately.”
“What has?”
Should I admit it to him? But really, he was the only who would understand.
“My chest feels funny, and I get all hot and clammy. I’ve also had night sweats a couple of times.”More than a couple of times.He grew scarily silent. “Lark? Still there?”
“Yeah, of course.” He cleared his throat. “Have you told your parents?”
“No. Hell, no. I just have to get through this season. A lot of people are counting on me.”
“Football is not more important than your health.” He made a frustrated sound. “You of all people should know that.”
“Obviously, you’re right. And I promise, if these symptoms keep happening, I’ll schedule a doctor’s appointment as soon as the season’s over.”
“Fuck,” he said under his breath. “What were your friends saying to you?”
“They mentioned the recital and me bringing you flowers.”
“I had a feeling that would happen. What did you say?”
“I told them that’s what friends do when they support each other.” My words rang hollow even though it was true. “I wish I could be as brave as you.”
“Hey.” His voice was suddenly closer, so he must’ve leaned his head against the outside of the door. “You are brave. You can’t help the pressure from your parents. I wish they would make it easier on you.”
“Yeah, me too.”
In a wobbly voice, Lark asked, “Did you mean what you wrote on the card?”
“With all my heart,” I replied without hesitation.
Lark sighed dreamily. “I want that too.”
It felt like my skin was too tight for my body as a swarm of butterflies kicked up in my stomach.
When the door opened and more voices carried into the bathroom, Lark said a quiet goodbye and left.
On cue, as if to fuck with me even more, my phone buzzed with a text from Dad.
Son, we need to talk.
What the hell? Could he have heard already? But the timing was suspicious. Now I felt like I wanted to puke.
I made myself ask:About what?
I held my breath as I waited for his response. It seemed to take ten hours.
